Feeling a bit cooped up at home and want to go out and do something fun with your kids this weekend? No problem!
We've got some great ideas on fun places to go and fun activities to engage in with your kids!
Both Hendersonville and Brevard have plenty of fun activities and places to go with kids. Whether you’re interested in an educational, an outdoor or a fun experience, there’s something for everyone year-round.
Hendersonville has a great variety of educational and fun activities in bustling downtown as well as further out towards Flat Rock where, depending on the season there are many orchards and farms offering U-Pick opportunities and events. Below are some of the favorites.
• Hands On! Children Museum. A museum geared to kids to help explore the world with their senses, this museum is a popular attraction in Hendersonville, that includes interesting exhibits and hands on activities to help your child explore history, dinosaurs and more!
• Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO. NC’s first inland aquarium, this attraction has a variety of animals and educational activities for kids to look at and explore. With a focus on STEM, most of the exhibits and programs are geared to furthering children’s curiosities and is a great rainy-day activity.
• Elijah Mountain Gem Mine. Kids will love this attraction and be able to find precious gems and crystals by sifting through gem flumes. It is consistently rated one of the top things to do in the area and there are different activities available for kids that are broken down by age groups. Great for the budding geologists!
• Sky Top Orchard. Although open year-round, Sky Top Orchard is the most fun during the late summer and fall where visitors can participate in U-Pick and enjoy fresh cider and donuts made from apples at the orchard. They also offer hay rides, a petting zoo and more activities that are fun for all ages!
• Appalachian Pinball Museum. Featuring over 80 games, this blast-from-the-past pinball museum is a huge hit for kids who love playing games. All the games are playable, and adult beverages are available for purchase for when you’re playing games too. It’s educational AND fun, which is why it regularly rates high on fun things to do in the area and is worth checking out.
• Carl Sandburg Home. This is a popular attraction for kids and adults, as there are historical tours, goats you can pet, and easy walking trails suitable for small children to walk. Located in Flat Rock, it’s about 10 minutes from downtown and remains a fun activity for families to do together.
For more ideas on fun things to do with kids in Hendersonville, click here.
Brevard, while there is still a downtown main street, is better known for outdoor activities such as hiking and site seeing. Brevard hosts a bounty of waterfalls and trail heads that any active family will likely enjoy. Below are some of the favorite places in Brevard for activities.
• Crystal Mountain Gem Mine. Similar to Elijah Mountain Gem Mine in Hendersonville, this one in Brevard also offers kids the opportunity to mine and sift through sediment to find their own gems such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds and more. They also have a rock and fossil shop which is a big hit with the kids as well. This gem mine is also consistently highly rated and worth checking out if you’re in the Brevard area.
• Slick Rock Falls. A family friendly, easy trail leads up to a 30-foot waterfall in Pisgah Forest. With over 250 waterfalls in Brevard alone, this one is a great option for families as the trail is fairly easy and short, making is accessible to short little legs. Best viewed after a good rain where the waterfall swells, it is also viewable from the parking lot, making it super popular to locals and visitors alike!
• Brevard Music Center. A popular event center and venue focusing on classical music and blues, this organization is also a summer institute for teaching kids 12 and up how to play music with the instrument of their choice, offering a rehearsal studio and a picturesque environment by the lake, amongst the pines, or along the stream where they may practice and learn.
• Co-Ed Cinema. A retro themed cinema and movie theatre that has called Brevard home for the past 80 years, this is a fun weekend activity to do for a rainy day. They show a variety of movies for both kids and adults, and have affordable matinee options. They have three movie times, and are only open Friday thru Sunday at the writing of this article.
For more ideas on fun things to do in Brevard, we recommend you check out this resource here.
With so many activities for every ocassion, there's no shortage of things to do with your kiddos this weekend to help them learn, explore, have fun and create memories as a family!